Investigating antioxidant, anti-obesity, and anticancer potential in raw and processed flour extracts of barnyard millets.

Barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumantacea L.) is a traditional South Indian dietary staple known for its short grain ripening period of 45 days. Various processing methods are employed to enhance its nutrient quality, aid digestion, and improve bioavailability by reducing anti-nutrients. This study aimed to compare the nutritional properties of barnyard millet processed through different methods, including whole flour, de-husked flour, and roasted flour. Samples were collected from different regions in Tamil Nadu, namely Chennai, Kovilpatti, and Virudhunagar. Subsequently, they underwent maceration extraction using methanol to evaluate their nutritional, antioxidant, and anti-nutritional properties. Phytochemical analysis revealed elevated levels of selected compounds in all samples, with processing methods resulting in a reduction of anti-nutrient content. Notably, the roasted sample from Chennai exhibited significant antioxidant activity, while de-husked flour from Chennai and Kovilpatti regions demonstrated inhibition of in vitro anti-obesity activity. RP-HPLC analysis identified major metabolites, and molecular docking against oxidoreductase proteins highlighted the efficacy of Chlorogenic acid and Gallic acid. These findings suggest the potential for developing novel therapeutic drugs for diabetes and anti-cancer health benefits associated with specific barnyard millet processing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]